Bloodshed: Middle Belt Leaders Say Buhari Has Failed Nigerians

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF says President Muhammadu Buhari has disappointed Nigerians over his government’s failure to tackle insecurity across the country.

The MBF spoke barely 72 hours after gunmen reportedly killed at least 142 persons in fresh attacks on some communities in Kanam and Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau State, North-central Nigeria.

The attacks were carried out in Kukawa, Gyambawu, Dungur, Kyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji, and Dadin Kowa communities of the state.

MBF’s admonition also came few hours after the Northern Elders Forum, NEF demanded the immediate resignation of President Buhari over worsening security situation in the country.

“The administration of President Buhari does not appear to have answers to the challenges of security to which we are exposed. We cannot continue to live and die under the dictates of killers, kidnappers, rapists and sundry criminal groups that have deprived us of our rights to live in peace and security.

“Our Constitution has provisions for leaders to voluntarily step down if they are challenged by personal reasons or they prove incapable of leading.

“It is now time for President Buhari to seriously consider that option, since his leadership has proved spectacularly incapable of providing security for Nigerians. Our Forum is aware of the weight of this advice, and it is also aware that we cannot continue to live under these conditions until 2023 when President Buhari’s term ends,” Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said in a statement on Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, terrorists bombed an Abuja-Kaduna train killings scores of people, injuring some while many have been abducted and are in the custody of the criminals.

The terrorists have threatened to kill the abductees if their demands were not met. Top on their demands is for the government to release their top commanders arrested by security agencies.

Speaking in Makurdi on Wednesday, Bitrus Pogu, the National President of MBF said killings in Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states by terrorists and bandits have become too alarming. He said President Buhari has failed to rein in the killers, noting that the administration has shown no capacity to protect Nigerians from criminals.

Pogu said what is happening “is a function of a failed Federal Government. A government that cannot protect its people. A government that has failed in its primary responsibility as provided in our constitution which is the provision of security and welfare for the people.”

According to him, the killings is getting to a stage when Nigerians will be forced to take up arms on their own because of government failure to protect life and property.

He said, “This thing has gone too much for Nigerians. I recall that before the recent killings in Benue and Plateau states, three major indents happened in Kaduna which are the attack on the airport, the attack on the train and the attack on the community that is in the immediate south of Kaduna.

“It is only a failed government that would allow such a thing to happen in a country unchecked. It is unfortunate because their failure to put an end to these killings is gradually making the average Nigerian to hate a Fulani man.

“And may God forbid that day when the Nigerian will rise up against innocent Fulani because of the failure of this government, so they better do something and quickly too.”